The Millie/Wilson/Eyles Legacy

 In Opinion

During the early 1800s William Millie an employee of the Bank of England was murdered at the bank while working after hours. His orphaned children William II and Eleanor became wards of a Mr. and Mrs. Williams, whose daughter was married to Rev Osler at Bond Head, Ontario. Rev Osler was a saddlebag preacher for the Anglican Ministry, who was instrumental in establishing the first church in Creemore.

In 1840 the Williams came from England to visit their daughter at Bond Head, bringing their young wards with them. On the voyage, they met Dixon Wilson and his sister Arabella. Dixon Wilson eventually married Eleanor and William II married Arabella Wilson. The long voyage probable by a sailing ship apparently became a romantic cruise.

Guided by Rev Osler, William II secured the E1/2 Lot 6. Con 6 in Nottawasaga Township (on the 5th line south of Creemore). After he retired his son, William H. Millie III, took it over. He married Annie Blackburn (my aunt), they had a son Leon, and daughters Gladys and Olive. He farmed it until he became Treasurer of the Township of Nottawasaga in the mid 1930s and moved to Creemore. William Millie II died July 4, 1899. Dixon Wilson and Eleanor had six children, Elizabeth, Anne, George, Ellen, Mary, William, and James. William married Ellen Honeyford and had two children: Charles, who was killed in The First World War, and Nina.

Nina Eleanor Wilson was born Dec. 30, 1893 and died in 1992. She was married to Capt. James John Eyles, Dartford, Kent, England. Capt. Eyles was born 1895 and served in the Canadian Army in The First World War. He and Nina Wilson were married, on Jan. 14, 1922, at Creemore. This marriage may not have lasted very long. Nina lived here all of her life, having many good friends including her relatives, Robyn and Alex Wilson, and the Millies. Those people say she was a lovely person with an upbeat personality, even though she was blind for the last several years of her life.

She loved to paint and did paint this picture of the original CNR station in Creemore.

It would be nice if a location could be found to display it in the present Station on the Green, accompanied by a brief copy of this history. The picture was given to me by my cousin Tricia Gidley (nee Clements), whose mother Olive was a daughter of W. H. Millie III. Tricia visited me on July 13 along with two other cousins Glad Bryce, and Susan Brockwell.

I would also like to thank Myrtle Carruthers and Robin Wilson for providing some of the historical info for the above.

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